Power neck band clamp



NOV. 7, 1933. E. DAVls 1,934,172

POWER NECK BAND CLAMP Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N V ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

NOV. 7, 1933. DAVls 1,934,172

POWER NECK BAND CLAMP Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2 SheetsSheet 2 h m (D J INVENTOR.

BY M 024014,

MZZQGW Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES POWER NECK BAND CLAMP Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. L, assigncr to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 2, 1530. Serial No. 479,313

17 Claims.

This invention relates to work holders for pressing machines and particularly to neck band clamping means for shirt pressing machines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a neck band clamp which will be operated by power supplied from a fluid motor located adjacent the clamp. A further object of the invention is to provide a neck band clamp which is mounted on a movable support and which is provided with fluid motor means, mounted adjacent the support, for moving the clamp into position by power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a neck band clamp for use with a shirt pressing machine and to provide a movable support on which the neck band clamp is pivotally mounted and which is equipped with a pair of fluid motors one of which moves the neck band clamp into position on a pressing element of the shirt pressing machine, and the other of which rocks the support for the neck band clamp in order to produce clamping action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and will be pointed out as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shirt pressing machine to which the invention is applied, the press being shown in closed position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1 when the press is open and the neck band clamp in normal inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a schematic View, mostly in section, showing the construction of the improved neck band clamping means and the control mechanism therefor.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

This invention is designed primarily for use on shirt pressing machines in which a shirt is pressed between a movable pressing head 11 and a fixed pressing element or buck 12. According to conventional practice the pressing head 11 is provided with a cut-out portion 13 for receiving the neck band of a shirt. A clamping block 14 is ordinarily mounted on the buck 12. The buck 12 is of conventional construction and is provided with padding 15 having a suitable covering 16. The pressing head 11 is mounted on a yoke L 13 which is pivotally mounted at 19 on an upstanding portion of the pressingmachine frame 20. The yoke 13 is actuated to open and close the press by a link member 22 which is pivotally connected at 23 to the yoke 18 and is pivotally connected at 24 to a bell crank 25. The bell crank 25 is oscillatably mounted at 26 on the pressing machine frame 20 and is operated by a fluid motor 28 having a. piston rod 29 which is pivotally connected at 30 to the forwardly extending arm of the bell crank 25. The buck 12 is supported by a neck 32 which is mounted on the pressing machine frame 20. The mechanism thus far described is of the conventional type and forms no part of the present invention.

The neck band clamping means includes the clamping block 14 and a clamping band 35 (see Figures 3 and 4). The clamping band is mounted on a movable clamping member 38 so that the band 35 extends, around the block 14, as shown in the drawings. The movable clamping member 38 is rigidly secured to a shaft 40 by suitable means such as pins 41. The shaft 40 is rotatably mounted in a support member 43 and a pinion 45 is rigidly secured to the shaft 40 at a point midway between the ends of the shaft. An operating member 48 is slidably mounted in the support 43 and is provided along the upper portion of its length with a rack 50, the teeth of which mesh with the pinion 45. A spring 52 is mounted on the upper part of the support member 43 and urges the operating member 48 downwardly in the support member 43. Downward movement of the operating member 48 will cause the rack 50 to turn the pinion 45 and shaft 40 in a counter-clockwise direction, in the drawings, and move the movable clamping member 38 and clamping band 35 from the position shown in Figure 3 into openposition away from the buck as shown in Figure 2. The spring 52 will therefore hold the clamping band 35 in a normal raised position such as shown in Figure 2.

Power means are provided for actuating the operating member 48 to move the clamping band 35 into position'adjacent the block 14. This power means includes a diaphragm chamber 54 which contains a diaphragm 55. A plunger 56 is secured to the lower end of the operating member 48 and extends through the top of the diaphragm chamber 54 and into contact with the diaphragm 55. Working fluid'under pressure is supplied to the diaphragm chamber 54 through a pipe 58, in a manner later to be described, and when pressure is thus applied under the diaphragm the plunger 56 will be moved upwardly to actuate the operating member 48 and move the rack 50 to turn the pinion 45 and shaft 40 in a clockwise direction and bring the clamping band 35 into position adjacent the block 14. The downward movement of the clamping band 35 is limited by the buck 12 with which it contacts when it comes into position adjacent the block 14.

Power means are provided for moving the clamping band 35 into clamping relation with the block 14. This means includes a diaphragm chamber 60 which contains a diaphragm 61. The support member 13 is connected with the diaphragm chamber 54 by suitable means such as screw threads 63. The diaphragm chamber 54 is pivotally mounted at on a bracket 6'7 which extends from the pressing machine frame. The support member 43 is normally held against pivotal movement about the pivotal connection 65 by a spring 68 which connects with an arm 69 secured to the support member 43. The spring 63 is connected at its lower end with the diaphragm chamber 60 and holds the arm 67 normally in contact with an abutment 70 formed on the top of the diaphragm chamber 60. A plunger '72 extends through the top of the diaphragm chamber 60. Working fluid under pressure is supplied to the diaphragm chamber 60 through a pipe 75, in a manner later to be described, and when pressure is thus applied under the diaphragm 61 the plunger 72'will be moved upwardly into contact with the arm 69 and will move the arm 69 to rock the support member 43 about the pivotal connection 65. This rocking movement of the support member 43 will cause the clamping band 35 to move into clamping relation with the block 14 to firmly hold the neck band of a shirt placed on the buck in contact with the block 14. The pressure between the clamping band 35 and the block 14 will depend on the pressure exerted against the diaphragm 61 since it is this pressure which is transmitted through the various connecting members to the clamping band '35.

Means are provided to control the supply of working fluid to the diaphragm chambers 54 and 60. This means includes an operating handle 86 which is pivotally mounted at 81 and is provided with oppositely extending arms 82 and 83. When the handle is moved upwardly, the arm 62 will operate the valves in a valve casing 85. When the handle 60 is moved downwardly, the arm 83 will operate the valves in a valve casing 86. When the handle 86 is in mid-position, the valves in neither valve casing 85 or 86 will be operated.

Each of the valve casings 85and 86 contains a normally closed intake valve 90 and a normally open exhaust valve 91 which are connected together by a spacer rod 92 so that they operate as a unit. A spring 95 holds the valves 90 and 91 in normal position. Each of the exhaust valves 91 is provided with a valve stem 96 which extends through the end of the valve casing and against which the arm 82 or 83 operates.

The valve casing 85 is provided with a pipe 98 which connects the interior of the valve casing 65, to a point midway between the valves, with a check valve 99. The check valve 99 is connected to the pipe 58 by a pipe 100. Working fluid is supplied to the valve casing 85 through a fluid supply line 161. When the handle 80 is raised to move the arm 82 into position to operate the valves in the valve casing 85, the intake valve 90 will be opened and the exhaust valve 91 will be closed, the valves being shown in this position in Figure 3. Working fluid from the fluid supply line 101 will flow around the open intake valve 96, through the valve casing 85, pipe 96, check valve 99, pipe 160, and pipe 56, to the diaphragm chamber 54 to operate the diaphragm 55 in the manner previously described.

When the handle 86 is moved downwardly to operate the arm 83 into position to move the valves in the valve casing 86 so as to open the intake valve 96 and close the exhaust valve 91, working fluid from the fluid supply line 161 will flow around the open intake valve 60, through the valve casing 86, and through a pipe 163, and a check valve 105, to the pipe '75 which supplies working fluid to the diaphragm chamber 60 to operate the diaphragm 61 in a manner previously described.

The check valves 99 and 105 are provided to maintain the working fluid under pressure in the diaphragm chambers 60 and 5%, respectively. Means are provided to permit the escape of working fluid from the diaphragm chambers 54 and 60 when it is no longer desirable to hold the neck band clamp in clamping position. This means includes a valve casing 108 which is provided with two separate valve chambers 110 and 111. Each of these valve chamberscontains a normally closed exhaust valve 112 which is held in normal position by a spring 114. The exhaust valve 112 in the valve chamber 111 is provided with a stem 116 and the exhaust valve 112 in the valve chamber 116 is provided with a shorter stemllS. Both of these stems 116 and 118 extend through the end of the valve casing 108 and a release handle 120 is pivotally mounted at 121 for movement into contact with the valve stems 116 and 118. The valve chamber 111 is connected by a pipe 125 with the pipe '75.

After a pressing operation, the operator may release the neck band clamping means by moving the handle 126 into contact with the valve stems 116 and 118. Since the valve stem 116 is the longer, the handle 120 will contact with the valve stem 116 first to open the exhaust valve 112 in the valve chamber 111, and permit working fluid to exhaust from the diaphragm chamber 60 through the pipe 75, pipe 125, valve chamber 111, and around the open exhaust valve 112. When pressure behind the diaphragm 61 is thus reduced, the spring 66 will move the arm 69 back into normal position in contact with the abutment '76. The support member 43 is thus moved in a clockwise direction about the pivotal connection 65 and the clamping band 35 moves out of clamping relation with the block 14.. Continued movement of the handle 126 will operate the valve stem 118 to open the exhaust valve112 in the valve chamber 116 thus permitting working fluid to escape from the diaphragm chamber 54 through the pipe 58. When the pressure behind the diaphragm 55 is thus reduced, the spring 52 will move the operating member 48 downwardly and the rack 50 will rotate thepinion 45 and shaft 46 in a counter-clockwise direction to raise the clamping band 35 out of contact with the buck l2 and into its normal upright position. This upward movement of the clamping band 35 is limited by the movable clamping member 38 which contacts with the side of the support member 43 when the clamping band 35 reaches substantially vertical position as shown in Figure From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel neck band clamp which is power operated by fluid motor means. The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment but changes and modifica-v tions maybe made without departing from. the spirit of. the invention as set forth inv the appended claims. v

What I claim is:

1; In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means for cooperative clamping action with saidblock; actuatin mechanism for said clamping means; motor means for operating the actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into position adjacent the block; and other motor means for operating the actuating mechanism'to move the clamping means into clamping relation with said block.

2. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and-a clamping means for cooperative clamping action with said block; actuating mechanism for said clamping means; motor means for operatinglthe actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into position adjacent the block; other motor means for operating the actuating mechanism to move the clamping means into clamping relation I with saidblock; means to control the supply of motive fluid to each of said motor means; and a common control manual for the control means.

3. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means for cooperative clamping action with said block; actuating mechanism for said clamping means; power means for operating the actuating mechanism to move said clamping means successively into position adjacent the lock and then into clamping relation with said block; means for locking the clamping means in either of said positions; and means for releasing said'locking means.

4. In a shirt pressing machine in combination,

i a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means'for cooperative clamping action with said block; actuating mechanism forsaid clamping means; a fluid motor for operating the actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into position adjacent the block; a second fluid motorfor operating the actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into clamping relation with said block; operator operated valve means for supplying motive fluid to each of said fluid motors; means for maintaining fluid pressure in each of said fluid motors, and means operable to release the working fluid from each of said fluid motors.

5. In a pressing machine in combination, a

; pressing element; a work holder movable into and pressing element; a work holder movable into and out of contact with the pressing element; a support member for the work holder; a pivotal connection between the supporting member and the work holder; actuating means within the supporting member for moving the work holder about its pivotal connection; spring means for holding the actuating means normally in position so that the work holder is out of contact and away from the l pressing element; and power means connected with the actuating means for operating'the same to move the work holder into contact with the pressing element.

'7. In a shirt pressing machine in. combination, a neck band clamp including a block member and a band member, one of which is movable with respect to the other; a support; a pivotal connection between the movable clamping member and the support; power operated means for moving the movable clamping. member about its pivotal connection to bring said movable. clamping member into position adjacent the other clamping member; andpower operated means for moving the support to bring the clamping members into clamping relation. 4

8. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including. a block member and a "band member, one of which. is movable with respect to the other; a support; a pivotal connection between the movable clamping member and the support; gear means associated with the movable clamping member for moving it about said pivotal connection with the support; power operated means for actuating the gear means associated with the movable clamping member to move said movable clamping member into position adjacent the other clamping member; and means for moving the support to bring said clamping members into clamping relation.

9. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a-block, member and a band member, one of which is movable with respect to the other; a support pivotally mounted upon the machine adjacent the bottom of the support, a pivotal connection between. the movable clamping member and the support; power operated means including a fluid operated motor located adjacent the support pivot at the lower end of'the support, and actuating means extending upwardly along said support and operatively connecting said motor and the movable clamping member for moving the latter to bring it into position adjacent the other clamping member; and a second fluid operated motor for moving said support to bring the clamping means .into clamping relation.

10; In. a shirt pressing machine in combination; a neck band clamp including a block member and a band member, one of which is movable with respect to the other; a support pivotally mounted upon the machine adjacent the bottom of the support, a pivotal connection between the movable clamping member and the support; power operated means including a fluid operated motor located adjacent the support pivot at the lower end of the support, and actuating means extending upwardly along said support and operatively connecting said motor and the movable clamping memberfor moving the latter to bring it into position adjacent the other clamping member; a second fluid operated motor for moving said support to bring the clamping means into clamping relation; means for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motors; and means for restoring the various parts to the positions occupied before actuation by the motors.

11. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clamping means on the upper end of the support, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support, motor means operatively connected with the clamping means'to swing it into position adjacent the block, motor means operatively engaging the. arm to move the support, and means to control the motor means.

12. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clamping means on the upper end of the support, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support, motor means carriedupon the support and operatively connected with the clamping means to swing it into position adjacent the block, motor means operatively engaging the arm to move the support, and means to control the motor means.

13. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clampingmeans on the upper end of the support, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support, motor means carried upon the support, a rack connected to the motor means and actuated thereby, arack gear carried by the clampingv means and meshing with the rack for operatively connecting the motor means with the clamping means, motor means operatively engaging the arm to move the support, and means to control the motor means.

14. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clamping means on the upper end of the support, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support, fluid motor means operatively connected with the clamping means to swing the latter into position adjacent the block, motor means operatively engaging the arm, fluid valves connecting thefluid motors to a source of fluid pressure and separately operable, check valves maintaining the pressure upon the motor means, and means exhausting the fluid pressure.

15. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a 'neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clamping means on the upper end of the support, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support, fluid motor means carried upon the support and operatively connected with the clamping means to swing the latter into position adjacent the block, fluid motor means operatively engaging the arm to move the support, fluid valves connecting the fluid motors to a source of fluid pressure and separately operable, check valves maintaining the pressure upon the motor means, and means exhausting the fluid pressure.

16.,In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a. clamping means cooperating together for clamping action, an upright support pivotally mounted at its base on the machine, means pivotally mounting the clamping means on the upper end of thesupport, an arm projecting from the bottom of the support. fluid motor means carried upon the support, a rack carried by the support and connected to the motor means for actuation thereby, a rack gear carried by the clamping means and meshing with the rack for operatively connecting the motor means with the clamping means, motor means operatively engaging the arm to move the support, fluid valves connecting the fluid motors to a source of fluid pressure and separately operable, check valves maintaining the pressure upon the motor means, and means exhausting the fluid pressure.

17. In a shirt pressing machine in combination, a neck band clamp including a block and a clamping means for cooperative clamping action with said block; actuating mechanism for said clamping means; a fluid motor for operating the actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into position adjacent the block; a second fluid motor for operating the actuating mechanism to bring the clamping means into clamping relation with said block; operator operated valve means for supplying motive fluid to each of said fluid motors; and means for maintaining fluid pressure in each of said fluid motors and for releasing the working fluid from each motor.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

